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Laptop Power Adapters

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Laptop Power Adapters

Postby Get Real! » Mon Mar 16, 2015 2:33 am

Laptop power adapters:

When you need a replacement power adapter for your laptop; and assuming you’re planning to purchase a universal one or use a spare one that you have at home from another laptop, you need to ensure that the following criteria are strictly met:

1. The Voltage rating must be the same as what’s on the original (ie: 18V)

2. The Amperage rating must be the same as what’s on the original. (ie: 2.5A)

3. The connector that plugs into the laptop must be a PERFECT fit!

Both ratings are on the label of the original power supply so do not use an adaptor that doesn’t match the electronic requirements.

NB: There is a plus or minus 5-10% tolerance for these values but that’s for electronics people to work out so stick to the exact values when buying just in case!

Equally important is to never use an adaptor that satisfies the electronic ratings (criteria 1 & 2) but is a little bit loose!

If the connector is a little bit loose it simply means that the adapter is not making perfect contact all of the time so eventually you’ll end up with an operating system that doesn’t flash its buffers, resets/restarts prematurely and eventually over some time you’ll end up cross-linked files, hard disk errors, and even damage to your motherboard.

The bottom line is that Laptops *must* have the correct constant supply of power.

I’m telling you all this because I just saw a beautiful expensive laptop totally trashed because the user was given the wrong adapter and he never got suspicious that it was loose and kept using it for 2-3 months. Now he has to buy another one! :(

Let that be a lesson people...
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Re: Laptop Power Adapters

Postby tsukoui » Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:52 am

I used a loose connecter in an Ethiopian laptop and it actually helped. But it had been damaged many years before by one of the manufacturers. Bottom line is its not the connecter that is the issue its care of the equipment.
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Re: Laptop Power Adapters

Postby umit07 » Mon Mar 16, 2015 1:28 pm

tsukoui wrote:I used a loose connecter in an Ethiopian laptop and it actually helped. But it had been damaged many years before by one of the manufacturers. Bottom line is its not the connecter that is the issue its care of the equipment.



One reason to have a tight fitting connector could be to prevent an electrical arc between the AC adapter plug and the laptop's power jack. An arc will dissipate some energy as heat, in time if lucky you may only damage the power jack, if not you can ruin your entire motherboard.

There are two things important things that GR didn't mention, firstly it's OK to use a power adapter with equal or greater ampere (provided that the voltage is the same). It's common for laptop power supply's to die over time, one must try to replace the adapter with the ORIGINAL or at least buy a reputable 3rd party equivalent. Many adapters sold online may look original but in reality are fake.

Easy way to check whether your replacement adapter is an original:

1. Plug adapter into a wall socket and turn power on
2. Tune a radio to a AM station with good signal, make sure the radio is within a meter or so from the adapter.
3. If you get a strong buzzing sound through the radio, your adapter is rubbish

You will not hear any buzzing from an original (or good 3rd party replacement) adapter, OEM adapters will always have shielding to prevent any electro-magnetic interference. Fake adapters usually contain no shielding whatsoever.
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Re: Laptop Power Adapters

Postby Get Real! » Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:13 pm

umit07 wrote:...it's OK to use a power adapter with equal or greater ampere (provided that the voltage is the same).

I doubt the laptop’s rechargeable battery is gonna be happy having a higher amperage forced into it during charging… it’ll be overheating and its life severely reduced!

It should be the first thing to go and indeed this customer’s battery displayed a red cross across the little battery icon on the bottom right. It was dead… an early sign that there was something wrong.
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Re: Laptop Power Adapters

Postby boomerang » Tue Mar 17, 2015 12:57 pm

Higher amps is ok...the device will draw what it needs...it's the voltage you need to watch out...for example the mains socket is rated at 10A...the device draws what it needs...
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Re: Laptop Power Adapters

Postby boomerang » Tue Mar 17, 2015 1:18 pm

Umit what the fuck man...we gonna converse on the cyprus forum when we reside in the same city?...buzz me ffs... :lol:
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